There are often several ways to answer a Math IC question.
You can use trial and error, you can set up and solve an equation,
and, for some questions, you might be able to answer the question
quickly, intuitively, and elegantly, if you can just spot how to
do it. These different approaches to answering questions vary in
the amount of time they take. Trial and error generally takes the
longest, while the elegant method of relying on an intuitive understanding
of conceptual knowledge takes the least amount of time.

Take, for example, the following problem:

Which
has a greater area, a square with sides measuring 4 cm or a circle
with a radius of the same length?

The most obvious way to solve this problem is simply to
plug 4 into the formula for the area of a square and area of a circle.
Let’s do it: Area of a square = s2,
so the area of this square = 42 = 16.
Area of a circle = πr2,
and the area of this circle must therefore be π42 = 16π.
16π is obviously bigger than 16, so the circle must
be bigger. That worked nicely. But a faster approach would have
been to draw a quick to-scale diagram with the square and circle
superimposed.

An even quicker way would have been to understand the
equations for the area of a square and a circle so well that it
was obvious that the circle was bigger, since the equation for the circle
will square the 4 and multiply it by π, whereas the
equation for the square will only square the 4.

While you may be a math whiz and just know the
answer, you can learn to look for a quicker route, such as choosing
to draw a diagram instead of working out the equation. And, as with
the example above, a quicker route is not necessarily a less accurate
one. Making such choices comes down to practice, having an awareness
that those other routes are out there, and basic mathematical ability.

The value of time-saving strategies is obvious: less time
spent on some questions allows you to devote more time to difficult
problems. It is this issue of time that separates the students who
do terrifically on the math section and those who merely do well.
Whether or not the ability to find accurate shortcuts is an actual
measure of mathematical prowess is not for us to say (though we
can think of arguments on either side), but the ability to find those
shortcuts absolutely matters on this test.

Shortcuts Are Really Math Intuition

We’ve told you all about shortcuts, but now we’re going
to give you some advice that might seem strange: you shouldn’t go
into every question searching for a shortcut. If you have to search
and search for a shortcut, it might end up taking longer than the
typical route. But at the same time, if you’re so frantic about
calculating out the right answer, you might miss the possibility
that a shortcut exists. If you go into each question knowing there
might be a shortcut and keep your mind open, you have a chance to
find the shortcuts you need.

To some extent, you can teach yourself to recognize when
a question might contain a shortcut. From the problem above, you
know that there will probably be a shortcut for all those questions
that give you the dimensions of two shapes and ask you to compare
them. A frantic test-taker might compulsively work out the equations
every time. But if you are a little calmer, you can see that drawing
a diagram is the best, and quickest, solution.

The fact that we advocate using shortcuts doesn’t mean
you shouldn’t focus on learning how to work out problems. We can
guarantee that you’re won’t find a shortcut for a problem unless you
know how to work it out the long way. After all, a shortcut requires
using your existing knowledge to spot a faster way to answer the
question. When we use the term math shortcut, we’re
really referring to your math intuition.